EVERY now and again, someone posts something really special on Facebook, and last week I saw a marvellous clip of the Dalai Lama talking about terrorism.

Basically, he said that any person who wants to indulge in violence is no longer a genuine follower of his or her religion. It is, for instance, a Muslim teaching that once you are involved in bloodshed you are no longer a genuine practitioner of Islam.

All the major world religious traditions carry the same message, the message of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline.

He stressed that these form the common ground, the common practice, and that on that level we can build genuine harmony on the basis of mutual respect, mutual learning and mutual admiration.

What a stirring message. What an example to set to everyone.

This is the message all our religious leaders should be preaching, and our political leaders too.

Creating hatred and division between different factions can only do harm and lead to more tension and more violence. What President Trump is doing in the United States is sowing seeds of resentment and xenophobia, he is creating anti-American feeling where perhaps there was none before, encouraging radicalisation which will only lead to more violence.

We need to stretch out the hand of love. That way peace lies.

Carolyn Jones

(Hon. Sec. Altrincham Interfaith Group, member of Dunham Road Unitarian Chapel)